Umbrella-runner.



No. 701237. A 4Patented Aug. I9, i902.

w. w. K-ENNEY & J. w. FUGLER.

UMBRELLA RUNNER.

(Applicatxon led Oct 3, 1901 (No Model.)

UNITED vSTATES PATENT. OFFICE.

WILLIAM W. KENNEY AND JOHN W. FOGLER, OF NEW LONDON, CONNECTICUT.

UMBRELLA-RUNNER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 707,237, dated August 19, 1902.

Application filed October 3, 1901. Serial No. 77,483. (No model.)

To a/ZZ whom, it may concern.-

Be it known thatwe, WILLIAM W. KENNEY and JOHN W. FOGLER, citizens of the Unitedv States, residing at New London, in the county of New London and State ot' Connecticut,

have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Umbrella-Joints, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention has for its immediate object the improvement of the means provided in an umbrella for hinging the stretchers and ribs to the so-called runner and spider,7 our chief aim being to provide hinging devices I5 that may be cheaply produced and quickly assembled or repaired.

The drawings annexed hereto illustrate our invention, Figure l being an elevation of an umbrella-stick with a single rib and stretcher 2o secured thereto by ourimproved means. Fig.

2 is an enlarged upper end View of the runner with portions of several stretchers radiating therefrom. Fig. 3 is a side view oi' said runner; and Fig. 4 is a plan view of the sameV z5 with the retaining-washer g partly broken away to disclose the manner of inserting the ball ends of the stretchers or ribs, as the case may be. Fig. 5 is a view of the sheet-metal blank from which the said runner is formed.

'3o Fig. 6 is a longitudinal central sectional View of said runner and retaining-washer further enlarged, and in Fig. 7 We have shown said washer detached. Fig. 2 also serves as a lower end view of the spider, to which the rib ends are hinged, inasmuch as the said spider ribs and stretchers are hinged together at f in the usual or any other practical manner. Inasmuch as the runner and spider are essentially alike we shall `describe in detail only the runner. Said runner'isformed from a 5o sheet-metal blank and rolled up into approximately the form shown in Fig. 5, the projecting portions c' being bent outward and then back upon the barrel of the runner, as is best seen in Fig. 6,-to form sockets of suitable size to receive the ball ends e of the stretchers, and in order to facilitate the entrance of the balls the extreme ends of the projections c are cut away or notched on opposite sides, as v at c2. After the several ball ends of the stretchers have been seated in the described sockets a washer g is slipped upon the barrel of the runner and moved into close engagement with the turned-in ends c', and in order to lock the washer firmly to the runner certain of the projections on the runner-blank are extended, as at c3, said locking projections being so bent prior to the assembling of the runner and washer that they (the projections c5) will lie close to the runner and allow the washer to slip over them. Preferably the washer is notched, as at g', so that it may'slip freely over the projections c3, and'after the washer has been forcedto its home position the ends c3 are bent outward, (see Figs. Sand 7,) thus locking the washer securely to the runner. The washer then serves to protect the several turned-in ends c' and also to prevent the accidental escape of the ball ends of the stretchers through the notches c2. The hinge-joints' thus provided permit the free movement of the stretchers and ribs under all conditions. Said joints may be cheaply produced, and they are particularly convenient whenever it becomes desirable or necessary to remove an old rib or stretcher and insert a new one.

Having thus described our invention, We claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent'- 1. In an umbrella, in combination with ballend ribs, a tube'with split ends turned back to form sockets for said ribs, a retainingwasher mounted upon said tube, and means consisting of projections c3, as herein set forth, for lockin g the said washer in its operative position.

2. In an umbrella, the combination of the ribs, the tubes having the'long and short split ends forming sockets for the ribs, and the washers having recesses to receive the ends IOO of the long ends, said ends locking the Wash- Signed at New London, Connecticut, this ers in place. 23d day 0f September, 1901.

3. In an umbrella, the combination of the ribs, the tubes having the long and short split ends turned under to form sockets for said ribs, and said long ends having their termi- Witnesses: nals turned under, and a Washer Secured by FRANK H. ALLEN, said long ends. GEORGE D. LAMBERTON, 

